Sixteen drivers from the Konica Series Class of 2001 took to the grid for the V8 Supercar 1000 race at Bathurst. This race was their chance at the big time, a chance to get noticed and, hopefully, finally land that full time drive with a Shell Series team for season 2002 and beyond.

Dux of the class of 2001 was Simon Wills. He won the championship 82 points ahead of then Gibson Motorsport driver, Paul Dumbrell. For the Bathurst 1000 race Simon teamed up with John Bowe in the CAT Racing Falcon, switching from a Holden all season to a Ford. Dale Brede was the only other Konica driver to switch camps for the endurance races.

Simon's weekend started well, with Bowe qualifying the car for the top 15 shootout, after which they took seventh spot on the grid. In the early part of the race Bowe grabbed the lead on lap 18 and pumped out some amazing lap times, when he broke the race lap record on more than one occasion.

When Bowe came in for the first stop he overshot his pit bay, which cost them valuable time. Simon took over but on lap 39 he was called back in for a stop-go penalty for speeding in pitlane, this put him back to 17th. This race was Simon's chance to show his ability; he was more than equal to the challenge, and put in the fastest lap of the race of 2 min 10.2011 sec on lap 59.

In lap 61 Wills collided with Anthony Tratt while he was trying to pass Larry Perkins coming in to Murrays Corner; this incident bent the steering and signalled the beginning of the end for CAT Racing. Bowe returned to the car and pressed on but the end of the race came on lap 124 when Simon ran into Jason Bright coming in to the Chase just as the rain began to fall.

Simon will be back with John Briggs Motorsport next year to run in the Shell Championship Series. Overall he put in some impressive work in the early part of the race, but some would say he peaked too early!

The most consistent and thus most successful driver at the end of the day was Owen Kelly. After finishing fourth in the Konica championship he was offered the co-driver role with Paul Romano in the Holden Young Lions car. Owen was given only 8 laps in the practice and qualifying sessions and still managed to produce lap times in the 2 min 15 sec range. This was his first time under race conditions in the 1000 km race. Last year he ran in the second Big Kev entry, but unfortunately he didn't get any race time due to a broken tail shaft on the first lap.

On lap 34 Owen was caught up in a big accident at Reid Park where he was hit from behind by the Castrol car #11; he ran up the back of the FTR car #6 while trying to avoid the Ultra Tune car in the middle of the circuit. The bonnet of the car was bent almost in half, and he came into the pits on that lap to get it straightened out.

From then on they continued to the end of the race and kept out of any further trouble. Kelly ended up finishing in 13th position - the highest placed of the 16 Konica drivers. This impressive performance for his first time at Bathurst will hopefully lead to bigger and better things for him for next year.

Another notable Konica Series pair (they finished in second and fifth in the championship), were Paul Dumbrell and Leanne Ferrier. They drove the second Valvoline car, but they had a difficult weekend where they struggled for straight-line speed. They qualified well down the order and never really got much further. Paul didn't seem to suffer any ill effects after a skiing accident just weeks before the event; he qualified the car and also started the race.

On lap 40 Paul had a coming together in the Chase with the second Kmart car of Nathan Pretty and Rick Kelly. This bent the steering and put an end to their race. Leanne didn't get any racing laps in the car. Hopefully, she will get her chance to do some laps at Bathurst for the Valvoline team in 2002.

With NRC not competing beyond the final round of the Konica series, this year's driver was left without a seat for Bathurst. However, Dale Brede managed to fall on his feet and partnered Alan Heath in the Power Racing Falcon. They had a relatively trouble free, in terms of incidents, race and finished in 18th position. Dale has secured a factory drive in next year's Konica series alongside Craig Harris in the Castrol Falcon. There will also be a third car so watch V8X for updates!

Craig Harris teamed up with fellow Konica driver Michael Simpson. Both these drivers put in strong performances in the Series to Finish in 10th and 8th respectively. Both had strong performances at the

second round at Oran Park where they finished on the podium. Unfortunately they were out of the race on lap 114 with Michael Simpson at the wheel, after the car hit the wall at Reid Park. With Dale joining the crew next year it will be a strong team and definitely one to watch.

The pace in the race was hot and the weather was forever changing, and the Konica drivers did an excellent job racing against the top Shell Series guys. However, only one has achieved a full time drive in next year's Shell Series, that being Simon Wills. But with John Briggs setting up a four-car team next year maybe he'll look at the other drivers who competed in this year's series, most notably Owen Kelly who did a brilliant job.

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